Sunday. For many expat moms attending village churches in developing world countries, it’s not a day to look forward to. Long story short, I try to sit and participate in a service while hot and sweaty as unhappy children crawl over me or ask me when it’s going to be over. (I was encouraged when a veteran missionary told me they never looked forward to Sundays either.)
This past Sunday we visited a Jarai village church. Josh was going to be preaching, which meant I would get all the sweaty unhappy kids to myself. We both rolled our eyes when Josh said he hoped I would have a good Mother’s Day.
We arrived at the church and were pleasantly surprised at how nice the building was: they had tile floors and fans. As the service started, our older kids chose to go to the children’s service. Isaiah returned shortly after, but Becca stayed. When the Jarai children came in to sing for the service, Becca joined them up front and did the motions to the song while the other kids sang (this was a huge surprise to us). Then we watched her go back with the kids and shortly after saw her running hand in hand with two Jarai girls playing games outside. This doesn’t happen at our Khmer church. Typically the Khmer kids play in one group and our kids play in another. (Even with the other great MK’s in our town, our kids haven’t yet found their niche.) I cannot tell you what a blessing it was to this mama’s heart to see her daughter running and smiling and being included. It’s been a long time.
At one point while Josh was preaching Becca came running in for a drink. She stopped and gave him the big thumbs up. Later when we asked her about it she said she had thought it was a Khmer man speaking and was surprised to turn and see Josh preaching. “You sounded just like a Khmer person, Daddy.”
So there I was: sitting on the floor in a Jarai church service with Clara in my arms and Anna on my lap, listening to my husband preach in Khmer, watching my daughter outside making friends while my son (who said he was a dirty monster) chased them. My family was happy and they belonged. Thanks be to God. It was the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Note: Anna remained happy as long as she could sit on my lap, and as long as the raisins were abundant.
Such a great story! I know it must lift Josh’s spirits to know he sounded “just like a Khmer person”!
Sounds like a perfect Mother’s Day to me! Enjoy each day!!!
Thank you for sharing your heart, Amy. I know it’s not easy any day. Can’t imagine for the children… I remember sitting in services when I couldn’t understand a word. (Thankfully, they sang a lot of the hymns we sing, so I knew the tune and could at least sing along in my mind.) But for children, for whom much of a sermon probably sounds like it’s in another language anyway, I know it must be very difficult. And for mom who is watching and trying to care for her children, while trying to make sure they don’t distract from the preacher who sounds just like a Khmer person (that’s PRECIOUS!)… But God will build the bridges. God will make a difference in you and through you. He already is.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Love y’all!
Beautiful Mother’s Day Amy. Thank you for sharing. Wonderful how the children are beginning to be accepted. To God be the glory !
So glad to hear!!!! So sweet.
Wonderful gift. Thank you for sharing it so well!